Alexis's Medical Fund

$14,350
of $15,000 goal

My name is Alexis Coffer and let me tell you a little about myself. :)

I am a young woman with dreams just like you or your daughter or your sister. I was 23 years old and attending college in May of 2009 when I was first diagnosed with stage 2A invasive ductal carcinoma (Breast Cancer-BRCA1/BRCA2 negative) that was estrogen and progesterone positive. My life was put on hold as I went through 6 series of Taxotere and Cytoxan chemotherapy every three weeks. The effects were devastating and I was hospitalized for low blood cell counts. At the completion of my chemotherapy treatment I has surgery, a lumpectomy to remove the tumor and this was followed by sentinel node biopsy, and 6 weeks of radiation therapy. As a young woman I was then placed on an ovarian suppression therapy and the drug Tamoxifen that lasted for the next 5 years.

During this five year time period I recovered. I got stronger. I made plans to move to Seattle and continue schooling, to make my long time dreams that had been put on hold a reality. Now I ask you to fast forward to March of 2014 when with the support and love of my family I finally had the opportunity to move to Seattle. This was also a time for the double celebration for my 5 year survivor mark of being cancer free!

Imagine the emotions and fear when on October 8th of 2014, 6 days after my 29th birthday, I was officially diagnosed again with invasive ductal carcinoma. I have breast cancer again! The test show that this time it is also estrogen and progesterone positive. Surgery in November of 2014 found that there were 5 tumors found in my left breast; the largest being just over 4 cm and due to the extent it was given the staging of 2B.

I have now undergone a complete mastectomy of the left side during November 2014 and now I will be starting the next phase of treatment beginning January 15, 2015. This includes a chemo schedule of AC (Adriamycin and Cytoxan every 2 weeks x 4 doses) followed by weekly Taxol for another 12 weeks. After completion of the chemotherapy I will go through another series of radiation treatments. The amount and duration of the radiation has yet to be determined. I will also be undergoing more extensive genetic testing on January 21st, 2015 to hopefully find a way that I don’t get cancer a third time.

I am asking for your help in aiding me in paying some of my medical bills not covered by insurance and living expenses while I’m unable to work, thereby allowing me stay in Seattle while undergoing treatment at one of the best research hospitals in the United States (Seattle Cancer Care Alliance). I’m not looking for a hand out, rather I’m hoping you’ll find it in your heart to help give me a hand up during this time in my life so that I can get the best possible care available to me.

I will be providing updates to my treatment progress on Alexis's Blog .

Thank you so much in advance! Anything you can give will help me out greatly! If you are unable to give please feel free to share with your friends, family, neighbors, or coworkers! :)

In lieu of my *hopefully* last chemotherapy EVER tomorrow, a little ‪#‎TBT‬ to my first chemo treatment in Seattle at ‪#‎SCCA‬! It has been a rollercoaster 6 months to say the least. Thank you everyone for your support, love and most of all your cupcakes! (Only half kidding about the cupcakes because they are oh so delicious.)

Also shameless self promotion plug, if anyone can stop by and/or share my ‪#‎gofundme‬ page it would be greatly appreciated! This chemo thing is just one stop in the long medical train called, "kicking cancer's booty!"

‬Update: So I've decided to make up yet another hash-tagged day...it is now a thing. I am declaring it ‪#‎SUCKitcancerSaturday‬!!!

Not only has my wonderful family on Facebook and beyond donated to my Gofundme account but I just have reached over my half way goal!!! I am still in just awe of the overwhelming response and my gratitude is boundless.

Today is also the day where I am officially celebrating and taking matters into my own hands and throwing a Pink inspired head shaving party! All that would like to stop by are welcome to see the wonderful spectacle that is an adorable, pint sized, bald headed, asian girl. :)